Ed Picson, Filipino boxing official of the hour, is a card-carrying Manny Pacquiao fanatic. So what?s this we hear that he has started to distance himself from the Pacman?
Has the pudgy Brother Ed, newly appointed executive director of the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines, shifted allegiance?
Has he placed a hefty bet on Ricky Hatton, a double-your-money underdog against Pacquiao, in their much-awaited May 2 slug-out at MGM Grand Las Vegas?
?He must be out of his mind,? chorused Pacquiao devotees in the Mandaluyong City wet market upon being informed of Picson?s strange stand on Tuesday.
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Well, you?re risking your neck if you ever as much hint out in the crowded streets that Pacquiao stands no chance against Hatton, who has yet to lose in the 140-lb division.
As expected, Picson received some cheap verbal jabs.
He was branded a loony, an outlaw, a cock-eyed traitor.
One great thing about Brother Ed is that he?s no whiner.
Does his boss, ABAP chair Manny V. Pangilinan, know about his wild plans?
No problem, he declares in his quiet corner.
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Ed was actually in no mood to explain.
But before you proceed to jump on my dear friend, who could out-drink Frank Sinatra or Dean Martin under the table, all he wanted was make sure his assignment to lead RP?s hunt for our first Olympic gold medal starts on the right foot.
The main idea, he says, is to develop future Filipino Olympic fighters away from the Pacquiao mold.
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Didn?t you make it worse? Ed was asked.
?No, the idea is not to dump Pacquiao, he will remain our greatest inspirer, our hero in our program.?
So what?s the idea?
?We just have to make sure our Olympic aspirants don?t end up making him as a ring model.?
But isn?t he the best there is around, not only here, the Orient, but around the world?
?You?re right, but his purely combative style of fighting is not suited for the Olympics,? Ed stressed.
But isn?t boxing, pure and simple, combat?
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Ed Picson swears it?s never easy to explain.
But here are some details on why he has taken that bold no-Pacman-please stand.
For boxers to succeed in the Olympics, they must be able to punch sharply?avoid slamming?and score.
In the first place, a knockdown is good for only a single point in the Olympiad.
Instead of pound-for-pound kings, they should finish as punch-for-punch champs.
They should give up the idea of jumping in for fiery no-holds-barred combat.
OK, here, they face the risk of appearing scared, even effeminate.
But the idea is to put emphasis on craft, pinpoint punching and carefulness.
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They should develop perfect defense and be very clinical in their offensive.
They should dump the firebrand style of fighting, and remain patient and humble.
So, instead of sensational and scintillating, they should be sharp and scientific.
Now, all the foregoing may indeed sound silly and hopeless to all prizefight fanatics hereabouts.
But, mind you, those great pointers have been the touchstones in the Olympic campaigns of gold-medal winning countries like Cuba, and Thailand of late.
?Am always on my toes,? said Picson, who appears ready to dig in hard and take all the blows as he breaks new ground for RP amateur boxing.
?In the first place, Pacquiao should?ve stayed and campaigned as an amateur if he knew he would succeed in the Olympics,? Picson says.
